Pool cover

ABSTRACT

A tension bar for securing an article to an abutment and including a coiled tension spring and two oppositely facing Ushaped members enclosed by the spring. A loop or one member at a first end of the bar secures the bar to a fixed abutment and wedge-like attaching member at a second end of the bar securing the article to a second member. The opposite ends of the members are secured at the ends of the spring which is put under tension when the members are pulled in opposite direction.

Bayonne, NJ. 07002 [22] Filed: June 25, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 836,257

[52] US. Cl. ..267/71, 267/178, 267/179 [51] 1nt.Cl ..Fl6f 1/12 [58] Field ofSearch.... ....267/7l,72,171,178,179; 24/196 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,172,803 2/1916 Kimbell ..267/7l United States Patent [151 3,653,652

, Lindberg, Jr. [4 1 Apr. 4, 1972 s41 POOL COVER 2,112,915 4/1938 Lenz ..267/71 [72] Inventor: Albert undberg, Jr. 179 w. 5th St. 774,191 11/1904 Luzzi ..24/196 Primary Examiner-James B. Marbert Artomey--Allison C. Collard [5 7] ABSTRACT A tension bar for securing an article to an abutment and including a coiled tension spring and two oppositely facing U- shaped members enclosed by the spring. A loop or one member at a first end of the bar secures the bar to a fixed abutment and wedge-like attaching member at a second end of the bar securing the article to a second member. The opposite ends of the members are secured at the ends of the spring which is put under tension when the members are pulled in opposite direction.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAFR 4 m2 3,653,652

It a ALBERT W. LINDBE'RG JR.

INVENTOR.

JOHN P. CHANDLER HIS ATTORNEY.

POOL COVER This invention relates to a tension bar for connecting two members together and provided with means for quickly attaching the members together, one to the other, and for releasing them. The connecting bar of the present invention has a variety of uses, the one illustrated being for attaching a swimming pool cover to the margin of the pool. The latter has a plurality of disappearing abutments which, when the pool cover is to be attached, are raised to secure a first end of the bar. The pool cover has a plurality of web-like straps or tapes secured in spaced relation to the margin of the cover, and a second end has securing means to receive the web and allow it to be drawn taut. Upon release of the tension on the tape, it is secured against movement until released.

ln the drawings FIG. 1 is a plan view of a swimming pool fitted with a cover secured in place by the tension bar of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation 'of the tension bar;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation thereof.

The tension bar of the present invention is used to secure some member such as a swimming pool cover under a measure of tension to another article here shown as a circular swimming pool 12. Means for securing the cover to the pool may include a tape 14 which is releasably attached to the tension bar 16. A first end of the bar is secured to an abutment shown in broken lines at 18 and in the case of a swimming pool this may be of a type which can recess completely into the pool structure when not in use.

A generally U-shaped member 20 may be formed from wire and said first end has a ring shaped loop 22 which receives the abutment. This member is positioned within the spring and has inturned fingers 24 at its opposite end securing the member to the second end of the spring.

A second member 26 has a loop 28 formed with a straight transverse bar and has similar fingers 30 which grasp the last convolution of the spring at the first end of the bar. Means for securing the web 14 against withdrawal from the bar 16 may comprise a transverse bar 32 whose terminals wrap around the two legs of the U-shaped member as it may be a separate member carried alongside of member 26 and be slidable independently of said member 26.

After securing loop 22 to the abutment 18, the web or strap 14 is threaded through the elements at the opposite end and the free terminal draws away from the bar.

What 1 claim is:

1. An elastic bar for connecting an article having tape-like web to an abutment under tension comprising:

a coiled tension spring having a first end and a second end,

a pair of oppositely disposed generally U-shaped members enclosed within said coiled tension spring, each of said members having hook-like terminals which engage the ajoining ends of said spring so that tension applied to the end of said U-shaped members compresses said spring, an enlarged ring-like loop closing the end of one of said U- shaped members, said ring-like loop closing the end of one of said U-shaped members, said ring-like loop having a diameter larger than the inside diameter of said spring, and

a further loop larger than the internal diameter of said spring and formed on the end of said second U-shaped member for securing a flexible tape-like web extending from the article so that the effective length of the web can be adjusted.

2. The elastic bar as defined in claim 1, wherein said further loop comprises a transverse bar slidably engaged to said further loop on the end of said second U-shaped member, whereby the web is wedged between said sliding transverse bar and the end of said second U-shaped member when the web is pulled away from the end of said member. 

1. An elastic bar for connecting an article having tape-like web to an abutment under tension comprising: A COILED TENSION SPRING HAVING A FIRST END AND A SECOND END, A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY DISPOSED GENERALLY U-shaped members enclosed within said coiled tension spring, each of said members having hook-like terminals which engage the ajoining ends of said spring so that tension applied to the end of said U-shaped members compresses said spring, an enlarged ring-like loop closing the end of one of said U-shaped members, said ring-like loop closing the end of one of said U-shaped members, said ring-like loop having A diameter larger than the inside diameter of said spring, and a further loop larger than the internal diameter of said spring and formed on the end of said second U-shaped member for securing a flexible tape-like web extending from the article so that the effective length of the web can be adjusted.
 2. The elastic bar as defined in claim 1, wherein said further loop comprises a transverse bar slidably engaged to said further loop on the end of said second U-shaped member, whereby the web is wedged between said sliding transverse bar and the end of said second U-shaped member when the web is pulled away from the end of said member. 